Stages of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking has an important role in learning and development because if properly executed it allows me to see the entire situation instead of the individual task. I plan to take the necessary actions to determine the task with open eyes and an unbiased approach. Remembering the facts about the situation can help in resolving the issue. Understanding by reiterating the problem can help me further comprehend. Applying then analyzing the tasks and or situations so I can prepare the steps to come to the evaluation. I can see if the resources are accurate and thorough. The last thing I should be able to do to assure my critical thinking skills are complete is a form of creating. I take all the information of this situation, and use it in my final resolution. These steps are crucial in the ability to think clearly and not be clouded by biased information.

Critical thinking is described as unbiased, clear and factual thought process that helps any student with any decision-making process. Critical thinking is an essential tool that every student will need to master to continue academic success. There are multiple phases of critical thinking as described by Benjamin Bloom which include remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating and creating. The critical thinking process starts by remembering. If we can remember what we read and apply key facts we will be able to move forward to understand what decisions we need to make. From there we can then apply the facts to the decision we have to make and innovate, or create, as needed.

Over the course of the last six weeks, I have come to realize that critical thinking is an important asset as I continue my journey in life. I have found this course to be both challenging and rewarding. Most importantly, I find myself viewing problems and conversations in a completely different light. While I would not consider myself an expert at critical thinking, I would assess myself in as a Beginner Thinker. Paul and Elder point out in the beginning thinker stage an individual actively begins to take command of their thinking process across multiple facets of their life (Paul and Elder, 2012). Furthermore, we recognize that there are problems in the way we think and begin to consciously attempt to better understand we can improve our thinking.

Identify three hindrances to the critical thinking process. Determine methods for overcoming these hindrances. Identify a time in which you experienced a hindrance in critical thinking. Describe a method you could use to overcome the hindrances.

If I am to develop my personal critical thinking ability, I must first make a conscious choice to understand the basic concept of a premise and then make critical reflection of this basic concept by expanding my thinking approach. To achieve this, I must ask radical questions that will enhance the scope of analysis and judgment. I must move from the region of subconscious thinking to one of conscious thinking because in so doing, I become aware that I am actually thinking. This awareness will allow me to think beyond rudimentary concepts through critical reasoning and critical reflection to decipher underlying issues that are concealed in the concept under investigation. By understanding the predictable

While reading Defining Critical Thinking I have found out that Critical Thinking is a mode of thinking about any subject, content, or problem in which the thinker imposes intellectual standards upon them. What this means is that you raise questions upon that subject in which you ask relevant questions that will effectively evaluate the solution upon the complex problem. I have also determined that people who think critically consistently attempt to live reasonable lives due to their strive to improve the world in any way they can. Also Critical Thinkers do not have a destination to be reached they proceed to improve their reasoning abilities since their reasoning abilities will always be put into question by human irrationality. Additionally Critical Thinkers recognize these dilemmas and commit themselves to deal with the society and practice toward self-improvement by doing this Critical Thinkers are able to live a reasonable life. I have also learned what makes a well cultivated critical thinker. To be a cultivated critical thinker, you need to

Since the beginning of the Critical Thinking course, I use a process of thinking that is active, purposeful, and organized. The elements of critical thinking I use involve reasoning based on inquiry, evidence, interpretations and implications. Additionally, I

Critical thinking is a vital task that must be done in our everyday lives. In “Becoming a Critic Of Your Thinking” found at criticalthinking.org, Dr. Linda Elder and Dr. Richard Paul explain critical thinking as “the disciplined art of ensuring that you use the best thinking you are capable of in any set of circumstances”. Even tough there are many different types of methods to achieve a better quality of critical thinking, Dr. Elder and Dr. Paul discuss four specific ones in the article. All strategies, however, force you to put yourself in an uncomfortable and difficult position to develop a better quality of thinking.

The first four stages of critical thinking development are, the unreflective thinker, the challenged thinker, the beginning thinker, and the practicing thinker. When it comes to the unreflective thinker, "we are unaware of significant problems in our thinking" (Paul & Elder, 2012 P.28). An unreflective thinker doesn't question their beliefs or decisions, due to the fact that they lack intellectual standards. The unreflective thinker does not realize that they are lacking skills. Egocentric tendencies play a dominant role in this type of thinking for the reason that, they lack skills and motivation to notice how self-centered and prejudice they are. The next stage is the challenged thinker, meaning "that we become aware of problems in our

In the six stages of critical thinking, I believe I am starting at the beginning thinker stage. I only apply critical thinking when issues will have a long term affect on my personal life or during my job when diagnosing a complaint or problem in the shop. In my personal experience, I first started applying critical thinking on my career and most recently started to recognize a similarity to daily problems. In certain situation, I did not purposely decide to apply critical thinking but I caught myself doing it. I first question myself. “Why I am over thinking this?” It took a long time and experience to realize that was the wrong question. It was not in fact that I was over thinking something is in fact my experience was

This leads me to summarizing the six stages of critical thinkers. “Stages One, The Unreflective Thinkers, are largely unaware of the determining role that thinking is playing in their lives. Likewise, unreflective thinkers lack the ability to explicitly assess their thinking; because they are unaware of the determining role critical thinking plays in their lives” (Elder & Paul, 2010). For example, this is the type of

Critical thinking is the questioning of ideas. It is the process in which you take an argument and analyze it in order to conclude whether that argument is valid. Thinking critically is a good skill that can help others make intelligent decisions and helps them understand what to believe or not believe. Critical thinking is involved in our daily life. For example, every day we make decisions and before every decision we think critically if that is the right decision. We take into consideration the possible consequences of such decision and from that we reach a conclusion. Critical thinking involves disciplined thinking and it teaches you to think for yourself. It is personal growth and confidence that results from learning to exercise your mind to its fullest potential.

According to Supon, one of the fundamental purposes of teaching critical thinking is to enhance the abilities of students to become critical thinkers. Corporate leaders, educational researchers, employers, and parents have continually pushed teachers to assist their students in the development of critical thinking ability. Critical thinking is a skill that ?involved not only knowledge of content by also concept formation and analysis, reasoning and drawing conclusions, recognizing and avoiding contradiction, and other essential cognitive activities? (Supon, 1998).

Putting my personal feelings aside and avoid errors in judgment. Sometimes I need to think without my emotions. It would help me not to use snap judgments, negative labeling and stereotypes in my thought process. I should also try learning to use a more creative problem solving, because it helps to approach problem from a different direction and explores news options. It may also help solve easier problems first and help tackle harder problems.

The first article titled “Becoming a Critic Of Your Thinking”, focuses on the different strategies and ways your mind can “work to discipline itself” and challenge your thinking. Good thinking ultimately leads you to being prepared and avoiding